International Humanitarian Law and Limitations of Methods of Prosecution of War

Abstract

The article analyzes the international legal basis of limitations and prohibition of methods of prosecution of war. The modern sources of international law and the doctrine of international humanitarian law have not introduced a definition of the term “methods of prosecution of war” and the “methods” and “weapons of war” are not distinguished, which complicates qualification of actions of the belligerent states in case of illegal use of force and weapons. The author believes that the methods of prosecution of war are distinguished by a number of features and introduces their classification according to the justification criteria, objects of attack, and the territorial area of hostilities.

Keywords

• international humanitarian law
• illegal methods of prosecution of war
• classification of the methods of prosecution of war
• legal regulation of armed actions
• belligerent parties